This blog started off by focussing on NZ's smaller 3rd level airlines, past and present. It has evolved to trying to present some record of NZ's domestic airline operations and some of the larger charter operators, interesting NZ international airliner movements and photos I have taken around the country. Comments, corrections or contributions are welcome, Steve - westland831@gmail.com

28 February 2015

Wilson still looking to fly to Whenuapai

The chief executive of a new regional airline being set up says he has not given up hope of the Whenuapai military airbase being used for commercial flights. Kiwi Regional Airlines wants to fly from Whenuapai to Wellington, but Defence Minister, Gerry Brownlee said he had no plans to change the airbase's status. The carrier's CEO, Ewan Wilson, said he would keep trying to change the Government's mind. "It still remains a goal for us. Governments come and go, we're not quite sure of what makes Whenuapai so unique. The military base at Woodbourne, Blenheim operates for both civilian and military use." Mr Wilson said the start-up airline was still planning to apply for consent to fly routes abandoned by Air New Zealand, including between Auckland, Hamilton, Nelson and Queenstown, as-well-as between Tauranga, Palmerston North and Blenheim.

Other things that may get in his way are getting approval to use the Saab on routes that required RNP navigation, as I believe that the Saabs navigation system is not approved for this higher standard of navigation.

Actually for a part 121 operation it requires the flight manual to have a statement of RNP conformance. It is a lot bigger than just adding two GPS as a navigator.

It is doable but it is expensive and can take a long time to manage and needs some specific expertise that seeing that they have not organised approvals to operate WP or slot approvals for QN I suspect they don't have.